The Anambra State Police Command has launched an investigation following the discovery of the bodies of three children at the residence of a woman identified by residents as a native doctor in Ideani community, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.
The tragic incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has sparked widespread concern and grief within the community, while authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the children’s deaths.
According to the police, four children were found unconscious at the premises in Umuoduba Village, Ideani, after officers attached to the Ogidi Police Station responded to a distress report. The victims were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency medical attention.
Medical personnel later confirmed three of the children dead, while the fourth child remains in critical condition and is receiving treatment.
The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a statement, describing it as deeply disturbing. He said the suspect, a woman popularly known in the community as “Ezenwanyi,” has been taken into police custody.
Ikenga disclosed that the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has been directed to take over the case to conduct a comprehensive investigation aimed at uncovering the circumstances that led to the deaths and establishing whether any criminal offences were committed.
Residents said the discovery threw the community into panic, with many expressing shock over the incident. The identities of the children, believed to be between six and 15 years old, had not been officially released as of the time of reporting. Authorities have also not disclosed the cause of death pending the outcome of forensic examinations and the ongoing investigation.
Police have appealed to members of the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information that could hinder the investigation. They assured residents that all necessary steps would be taken to establish the facts and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.
